I recently acquired a set of Nursing items which included a WW2 War Medal and a Defence medal.I wonder if anyone knows why more of these aren't seen in wartime nursing groups? I am trying to figure out the award criteria for both as to why some nurses did receive them but others didn't.I would expect many nurses to be eligible for the Defence medal but not the War medal? I wonder if anyone already knows the answer to this? As these were issued unnamed it is often difficult to confirm entitlement in mixed lots.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_Medal_(United_Kingdom)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Medal_1939–1945
If my experience is anything to go by then there will be all sorts of reasons including enlistment date, time in service, length of time in a particular theatre/area, other awards/medals awarded etc. It's a complicated system.
You could also look at the UK Government site.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/medals-campaigns-descriptions-and-eligibility